Former manager David O'Leary's high-spending spell in charge came to an end last summer when he was sacked - just a few months after topping the Premiership table.

Venables was brought in but he was forced to accept that Rio Ferdinand would be sold to Manchester United for £30m.

That was part of an attempt to recoup some of the £100m spent by O'Leary in the pursuit of regular Champions League football.

ELLAND ROAD AUCTION

Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd, £30m

Jonathan Woodgate: Newcastle, £8m

Robbie Keane: Tottenham, £7m

Robbie Fowler: Man City, £6m

Lee Bowyer: West Ham, £100,000

But the sales did not stop and soon Robbie Keane, Lee Bowyer and Robbie Fowler left Elland Road.

Shareholders nevertheless re-elected Ridsdale as Leeds chairman by a record majority in November, as he pledged to bring stability to the club.

But negotiations over O'Leary's severance settlement - believed to be a seven-figure sum - rumbled on for several months before the final straw came in the shape of the £8m sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle.

Venables had received assurances from Ridsdale that no other star players would be sold so when Woodgate - considered Leeds' crown jewel - was offloaded supporters vented their anger at Ridsdale.